Dan Bongino Sounds the Alarm as Schiff’s FBI Appointment Sparks Controversy

Just days before Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) was appointed Deputy Director of the FBI by President Donald Trump, conservative commentator and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino issued a direct and impassioned warning on his podcast, criticizing Schiff’s role in what he described as one of the most damaging political scandals in modern history.

“What’s going on with Adam Schiff?” Bongino asked during a recent episode. “I want you to look again at the Russia collusion hoax. Revisit the facts. Because I’m not moving on from it—and neither should you.”

Bongino, a vocal critic of Schiff for years, brought the issue back into the spotlight following the surprise announcement of Schiff’s upcoming appointment to the FBI’s leadership. While the decision hasn’t been officially confirmed by the administration, speculation is mounting that the appointment is imminent, with several media outlets and political analysts reporting that Schiff is being vetted for the role.

Bongino Revisits the Russia Probe

In his podcast, Bongino revisited the events surrounding the now-discredited allegations of Russian collusion during the 2016 election—a controversy in which Schiff played a leading role as a member, and later Chair, of the House Intelligence Committee.

“We had the FBI, the Department of Justice, members of Congress, foreign intelligence services, and media operatives all pushing a narrative that turned out to be completely manufactured,” Bongino said. “This wasn’t just political theater. It risked our relationship with a nuclear power and compromised public trust in government institutions.”

Bongino emphasized that accountability is still necessary: “This can’t just be swept under the rug. If we don’t understand what went wrong, we risk repeating it. This isn’t about party politics—it’s about the integrity of our democracy.”

Schiff’s Pardon Raises Questions

The timing of Schiff’s potential appointment comes on the heels of a controversial decision by former President Joe Biden to grant preemptive pardons to Schiff and other members of the House Select Committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol riot.

In a statement, Schiff acknowledged the pardon but expressed reservations about its necessity: “While I continue to believe the pardon was unnecessary and potentially sets a poor precedent, I understand why President Biden chose to take this step given the constant threats being made by Donald Trump and his allies.”

Importantly, Schiff did not reject the pardon, a fact that Bongino and other critics have highlighted as cause for concern.

A report from The Hill noted that the pardons issued were “full and unconditional,” covering any potential criminal charges related to the committee’s work or its subject matter. However, legal analysts say it remains unclear whether the pardon also protects against potential accusations tied to Schiff’s previous assertions that then-President Trump was acting on behalf of Russia—a claim that was never substantiated.

The January 6 Committee Members Also Pardoned

Other key members of the House committee, including Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who served as chair, and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the vice chair, also received pardons. The group issued a joint statement defending the decision:

“These pardons were not granted because we broke the law—but to protect us from politically motivated retribution. We served the public by exposing the facts behind an effort to overturn the 2020 election and block the peaceful transfer of power.”

The statement framed the pardons as a necessary defense against threats of prosecution that have emerged since Trump returned to office and began reshaping the Justice Department and federal agencies.

Concerns About the Future of Federal Law Enforcement

The prospect of Schiff serving in a senior role within the FBI is already stirring controversy on Capitol Hill. Critics argue that such an appointment would further politicize an agency still working to rebuild public trust after years of scrutiny related to its handling of the Russia investigation, the Clinton email probe, and the events of January 6.

“This is not about Adam Schiff as an individual,” Bongino concluded. “It’s about accountability, transparency, and whether public institutions can function without being weaponized for political purposes.”

He warned his listeners to pay close attention in the coming days: “This isn’t over. Not even close.”

For now, the White House has remained tight-lipped about Schiff’s rumored appointment. But if confirmed, it will almost certainly fuel a larger debate about how far-reaching the consequences of past political narratives should be—and whether those who promoted them should be entrusted with overseeing the very institutions they once investigated.